July 2012

July 22, 2012

Last night at dinner, at one of our favorite typical-Austin, southside-hippie-locavore joints, a friend ordered some extravaganza involving a squash cake. It looked good. I mooched a bite and it tasted good, though the texture was a little gummy for my preferences. Nevertheless, determined to replicate it at home, this evening I gave it a go. As usual with my cooking, my favorite method involves messing around with whatever I have on hand, and basically poking it 'til it looks right and tastes good. Mileage varies, but this was quite a success.

Sorry there are no pics. It was too successful to stand still for a photo op, and got eaten up fast. But never fear! There were leftovers, so when I make up another batch I'll snap them before they get snapped up.

Mix it all up, just til combined. It will be a little wet. If it's too wet and doesn't hang together, add a little more of the ground pretzels or cornmeal or what have you.

Heat frying pan, coat lightly with the cooking oil of your choice (I used EVOO), grab a handful, form a patty, and slap that sucker in the pan. Cook for about 2 minutes on each side, or until nicely browned.

Then, pop it on a plate and top with black beans or some chicken, a slice or two of avocado, a little bit of cheese, and just a drizzle of chipotle aioli or lowfat sour cream.

July 19, 2012

It was a boot camp, outdoors in the summer Texas heat, when I first noticed that not only could I sort of kind of run, but I sort of kind of liked it. I don't know what made me try it that day. Usually, when the instructor sent us to do laps, I just walked fast, because I didn't think I could run, at least not very far or without getting so winded that I'd be useless for the rest of the camp. But for some reason, that day, I wanted to run, and once I started, I realized I could do the whole lap. Not very fast, but I could do it steadily, and I did.

And after that, I started running a little more and a little more. Then I found Couch to 5K,and did my first formal training program. C25K is literally so easy that almost anyone can do it, and it's especially easy if you use Robert Ullrey's free podcasts. And now, they have apps, they have a FaceBook page, they have a treadmill version --- there's even a version for you to do with your dog! There are all kinds of tools to help you get running safely and happily, most of them FREE.

I mention all this because, last week, as I struggled once again not to beat myself up over my near-complete failure to keep my simple July goals, I realized I needed something to train for. And despite the fact that the heat and humidity are hellacious as only a Texas July can be, and I am up to my nosebones in work and barely have two brain cells to rub together, I decided that training for a 5K would be just the thing. Running has continued to call for me, but the last time I did it with any regularly was waaaay back in October/November; so a trip back to the basics was definately in order. And when it comes to working out, I need a PROGRAM. I need someone, either in person on a screen, or on a podcast, to tell me exactly what to do and when to do it.

So, I started casting around for a 5K to do in Austin in the fall, and a fellow opera singer invited me to do the Pride 2012 Rainbow Run with him. What could be more fun? (Besides they promise a RAINBOW EXPLOSION party at the finish --- I have no idea what that is, but it sounds fun). Now I'm trying to recruit other opera friends to run in a pack. Can you visualize the thundering awesomeness of a huge pack of running opera singers?

At this writing, I've completed Week 1.

Day One --- got up late and had to run in the heat, thought I'd die.

Day Two. Got up earlier to beat the heat, but it'd rained the night before and was super steamy. Thought I'd die, but not as quickly.

Day Three. Got up early, it was both hot and steamy, suffered from foot and knee pain ... managed not to die. Perhaps I should stop whining and just RUN.

So, there you have it. Week One is accomplished, and the main thing is, having made the commitment and paid my entry fee, I got up and out and did it, no matter how much I prefered to procrastinate. That's kind of the whole point in doing this, to make myself stick to a schedule. So far, so good. On days off, I've been practicing yoga, which is nice for the joints and muscles.

July 15, 2012

Olive oil is a huge industry worldwide, and you might be surprised at who some of the world's biggest consumers are. Globally, 2,000,000 tons of edible oil are produced per year. Spain is the largest producer, followed by Italy and then Greece, but olive are also grown in Portugal, Brazil, Australia, Chile, Turkey, New Zealand, and South Africa ... and of course, the US, increasingly in Arizona, California, and Texas. But the biggest consumer? China, believe it or not. China requires a minimum of 17,000,000 tons edible oil per year, and they are starting to grown trees locally.

The groves at Bella Vista Ranch.

Why this sudden interest in olive oil? A couple of weeks ago, Eric and I toured a local olive grove and oil press called Bella Vista Ranch. The owner, Jack Dougherty, gave a very informative and entertaining lecture about the origins of olive oil and its many uses, the cultivation of trees worldwide but especially in Texas, how olive oil is made, and a lot more. Jack is both knowledgeable and opinionated, and it was fascinating --- and also very beautiful, sitting under the trees amid the olive grove and vineyards, looking out over the Texas Hill Country on a hot July day.The tour ended in the tasting room, where we enjoyed samples of Jack's grassy, peppery olive oil and several of his wines. We went home with a few bottles of each!

Don't let the hat fool you. Jack looks like a good ol' boy but he's a Naturalized Texan, from California. Well, he's here now, so that's what counts. ;)

One of the things I found most interesting, of course, were the health benefits of olive oil. Of course, it's no news that it's one of the healthy oils. It's a monounsaturated fat, which can help control your cholesterol levels and normalize blood clotting. But what I didn't know previously was that olive oil contains a phytonutrient called oleocanthal, which imitates the effect of ibuprofen, reducing inflammation. And among its other benefits as a natural anti-inflammatory, it may be able to decrease the risk of breast and lung cancer. It's also rich in antioxidants, which help lower the risk of several types of cancer. The anti-inflammatory properties also have benefits for other diseases, including stroke, heart disease, arthritis, and some dementias.

And olive oil has recently been tied to studies suggesting that a Mediterrenean diet (which is rich in olive oil) significantly lowers the risk of Type II diabetes --- by almost 50%, compared to a low-fat diet. Olive oil contains a hormone called adiponectin, which helps regulate blood sugar levels.

Of course, it's still a fat, and therefore high in calories, so it should be used judiciously. But isn't it impressive that one tree, and one tiny fruit, could produce so many health benefits? Furthermore, considering that raw olives are inedible (they contain capsaicin, the compound found in chilis that makes them hot, and will burn your mouth if you taste one straight off the tree), it's rather surprising that ancient people figured out how to cure and eat them. The history is really fascinating.

As long as we're talking about healthy oils, I've recently become enamoured of cooking with coconut oil, a healthy and natural saturated fat. Try cooking your scrambled eggs in a tiny bit of it --- YUM! Among its benefits, coconut oil can join olive oil in boasting a good influence on heart health, Type II diabetes, the immune system, metabolism, and weight loss. I recently bought two big jars from a place called Tropical Traditions, and have been very happy with it. It's a much better deal than what you get in the store!

As if olive and coconut oils didn't do enough for us, they are also GREAT for your skin and hair. Years ago, one of the makeup artists at Chicago Lyric Opera told me that her greatest beauty secret was olive oil, which she used as a moisturizer on her face (she had gorgeous skin). It also works well as a deep conditioner for your hair, and helps control dandruff. Coconut oil is also great for your skin --- it's full of Vitamin E and fatty acids, which have anti-oxidizing and anti-bacterial properties. It's great for giving your hair some extra shine, or for treating dry, damaged hair; and it's especially good for Black hair.

By the way, we ended our trip to the Hill Country with a stop at the beautiful Italian restaurant, Trattoria Lisina, where we started a delicious meal with a dark green, deeply fruity olive oil and some really yummy bread for dipping. Thanks to the high calorie and carb content, that's not an everyday treat, but we sure did enjoy it!

July 06, 2012

I guess things got a little busy for a while there. When I am on the road for opera engagements, there are always other projects to work on when not rehearsing or performing. I had a couple of auditions, and worked a lot on my opera training program, Spotlight on Opera, which starts up on Sunday and will consume me 24/7 between now and the first week of August. Typically, I'd ride the bike down to the local coffeehouse, and work there for several hours; then ride for about an hour before heading home to get ready for rehearsal.

My makeup for this show was scary! My character was a mean old woman named Zita. She got progressively meaner and older and scarier as the final week of rehearsals progressed.

Take 1 --- in costume, with street makeup.

Take 2 --- a few character lines and prosthetic eyebrows.

Take 3 - many more character lines, plus a lot of stippling (using different colors and a rough sponge to create that tissue-paper-skin texture); also, misshaped lips.

Take 5 - all of the above, plus red stippling to look like rosacea; lips are even more exaggerated.

Take 5 - same makeup job as the one above, without the wimple. You can really see the stippling here. And it looks like I've had a stroke!

Tell you what, after seeing these pictures, I went out and got a facial. And redoubled my interest in sunscreen.

Ironically, my costume was very flattering, and had it not been for the GIANT hat and wimple, there would have been some impressive cleavage on display. But this was not a glamour show for me.

The late Buoso Donati's relatives realize that if they can only find his will, they can dispel rumors that he has left everything to the friars.

The will is found ... the results are not favorable to Buoso's family.

The Donatis consult the lawyer Gianni Schicchi to see what might be done about making the will more amenable.

Whoever thinks opera is about fat people standing around bellowing at each other has another think coming. In this photo, the boys are attempting to hide the corpse of Buoso Donati in the closet when a knock comes to the door (which they're blocking with the body). I had to leap over the trunk, run to the door to see who it was, leap over the trunk again, and rush downstage to sing my line. In a floor-length dress with train, and giant hat with wimple.There is a lot of running around in this opera!

I was very happy to revert to my "normal" look after spending many days as a grumpy old lady!

We had a big break between performances, so I took the train up to New York for a couple of voice lessons and coachings, and thence to Boston, where I caught the bus to Manchester, NH to visit with a good friend for a couple of days. Said friend is having some knee trouble, so there was not much exercise going on. Instead, we drove up to the mountains and visited a couple of the grand old Victorian mountain houses, beautiful resorts where people have escaped the city heat and bustle to relax in gorgeous, bucolic environment. It was a chilly, misty day when we drove up, but beautiful nonetheless.

This was definitely my favorite --- the Mount Washington Resort, a truly glamourous and grand old lady. We enjoyed coffee and dessert just inside the veranda (it was too cold to sit outside, more's the pity).

My friend and I did not behave all that well in terms of healthy eating, so the less said about that the better. But the next day, when I headed back down to Boston, I made sure to walk as much as possible. I love Boston, especially when the weather's good, and it was a gorgeous, sunny day. So I walked all over town, following the Freedom Trail. It's a must-do when visiting this lovely city.

The Tea Party boat. (The REAL Tea Party. I don't know if the boat is the original).

Sculpture of Paul Revere, close to the Old North Church.

So, at least I got a lot of walking in.

Now, I am back in Texas, and gearing up for four weeks of Spotlight on Opera. I am the general director; I organize everything, do most of the administrative work and all of the scheduling, put out fires, haul props, wipe noses and other less desirable parts, stage direct, teach voice lessons, and give business seminars. In other words, I'm the mom. I have a few days at home to rest and gear up for all of this, and I am sorry to report that I have been an absolute slug in the workout department. Despite my July resolution to write a food plan every day, log everything on LoseIt, and do some form of exercise, I have not gotten it together, and that must change beginning today. Yes, I have been exhausted and even felt some of the old stress symptoms, but eating right and moving will only make me feel better. So, that's the goal for the day, to heave myself back on track one more time, as often as necessary. I am determined to make healthy lunches and get in a workout first thing in the morning for the duration of Spotlight, so come September I will be fit enough to start a heavier duty workout regimen again.

It's good to be home for a while and have a chance to regroup. And there is always another chance to regroup. Repeat as necessary.